string
string — noun
1. Strong, thin cord made by twisting several thinner fibres together, used for tyi
Strong, thin cord made by twisting several thinner fibres together, used for tying, fastening, or hanging things.
Christopher tied the parcel with a strong piece of string.
piece of string — typical quantifier
Asako found a ball of string in the kitchen drawer and used it to hang party lanterns.
ball of string — common packaging noun
Quan pulled the string tight and the canvas bag closed around the camping gear.
Hana tied a small gift box with a long piece of red string and added a bow.
- piece of string
- ball of string
- length of string
- tie with string
- string breaks
Usage Note
Countable when referring to a specific length or piece (e.g. 'two strings'). Uncountable when referring to the material in general (e.g. 'a reel of string').
Common Mistakes
2. Several items that have been put on a single piece of cord, wire, or thread in a
Several items that have been put on a single piece of cord, wire, or thread in a row.
Iris wore a string of pearls that her grandmother had given her.
string of pearls — classic jewellery collocation
Femi hung a string of colourful lights across the garden for the summer party.
string of lights
A string of dried chillies hung from the kitchen ceiling hook.
Lan threaded a string of origami paper cranes across the classroom for the school festival.
- string of beads
- string of pearls
- string of lights
- string of onions
Usage Note
Followed by 'of' + noun to specify what is threaded (e.g. 'a string of beads', 'a string of onions').
3. Several similar occurrences or items that happen or appear one right after the o
Several similar occurrences or items that happen or appear one right after the other.
The football team lost a string of five games after their captain got injured.
string of + number + noun — quantifying pattern
An unexpected string of events led the Seoul police to the missing child within two days.
Devika published a string of investigative articles about water pollution in the local newspaper.
A string of complaints from customers forced the restaurant to change its menu.
- string of events
- string of complaints
- string of successes
- string of defeats
Usage Note
Always followed by 'of' + noun. Implies a notable or surprising number in sequence, not just any series.
4. A thin wire or cord that vibrates to make a sound when someone plays it by pluck
A thin wire or cord that vibrates to make a sound when someone plays it by plucking, bowing, or striking — found on guitars, violins, and pianos.
Kian broke a guitar string during the concert and had to replace it on stage.
guitar string — instrument + string collocation
The violin's A string sounded a little out of tune after the long rehearsal.
Sari pressed the piano key softly and the string inside the piano vibrated beautifully.
piano string — different instrument type
A loose string on the cello made a buzz whenever Talia played the lower notes.
- guitar string
- violin string
- piano string
- string breaks
- replace a string
- steel string
Usage Note
Typically modified by the name of the instrument (guitar string, violin string, piano string) or by pitch name (E string, G string).
5. All the instruments whose sound comes from vibrating strings — such as violins,
All the instruments whose sound comes from vibrating strings — such as violins, violas, cellos, and double basses — when treated as a single unit within an orchestra or band, or the musicians who play them.
The strings played a soft melody while the orchestra waited to join in.
the strings — collective noun for string section
Quinn joined the string section of the city youth orchestra as a viola player.
The conductor asked the strings to play more quietly during the second movement.
The strings opened the concert with a lively piece by Vivaldi.
- the strings
- string section
- string player
- string quartet
- string section
more formal term for the same group
- brass
the brass instruments section of an orchestra
- woodwind
the woodwind instruments section of an orchestra
- percussion
the percussion instruments section of an orchestra
Usage Note
Used with plural verb agreement when referring to the group of instruments or players. Can also appear as 'the string section' or simply 'the strings'.
6. Each of the thin strands stretched across the head of a racket, designed to stri
Each of the thin strands stretched across the head of a racket, designed to strike the ball in sports such as tennis, badminton, or squash.
Devika had the strings of her tennis racket replaced before the championship match.
strings of [sport] racket
One of the racket strings snapped when Jabari served the ball at full power.
Top tennis players like Naomi Osaka change their racket strings after every tournament match.
Loose racket strings made it hard for Sven to control his shots during the game.
- rackets strings
- string tension
- replace the strings
- string breaks
Usage Note
Often appears in the plural ('the strings of a racket'). The verb 'to string' is used for fitting new strings (see verb senses).
7. A group of text characters — which may include alphabetic, numeric, or punctuati
A group of text characters — which may include alphabetic, numeric, or punctuation signs — handled as one unit in computer code or text searches.
The login script searches for a specific string of characters in the user database to verify each password.
string of characters — computing collocation
Quinn typed a search string into the database to find customer records from June.
In JavaScript, a string variable can store a username like "amani_85" for use in the login function.
string variable — programming term
When Yuki tried to set a long password, the error message said the input string exceeded the 12-character limit.
- search string
- input string
- text string
- string variable
- string of characters
Usage Note
Almost always used in technical contexts about programming, searching, or data processing. Often appears as 'string of characters' or 'text string'.
string along
phrasal verbTo deceive someone over a period of time by making them believe something that is not true, usually that you will do something for them.
Joaquín promised to hire Sari but he was just stringing her along for months.
Stop stringing me along and tell me the truth about the job offer.
string together
phrasal verbTo combine words, ideas, or objects into a coherent or connected series.
The toddler could barely string two words together but understood everything her parents said.
Sumin strung together a few old photographs to create a short family timeline.
string up
phrasal verbTo hang something from a height using a rope, string, or wire.
The neighbours strung up bright lanterns across the street for the festival parade.
no strings attached
idiomWithout any special conditions or hidden requirements.
The scholarship money was given with no strings attached — the student did not have to pay it back.
Léa offered to help with no strings attached, simply because she wanted to be kind.
pull strings
idiomTo use your personal influence or connections secretly to gain an advantage.
Rafael got the internship because his uncle pulled strings at the company.
Élise does not believe in pulling strings at the university admissions office — she wants to succeed on her own merit.
To have an additional skill or option that you can use if your first plan fails.
Dylan is a trained electrician, so if teaching does not work out he has another string to his bow.
A joking reply used when someone asks a question that has no definite answer.
"How long will it take to finish the app redesign?" — "How long is a piece of string? It depends on how many changes the client wants."
apron strings
idiomThe state of being too dependent on or controlled by one's parents, especially one's mother.
At 30 years old he is still tied to his mother's apron strings and cannot make his own decisions.
Being too dependent on someone and letting them control your decisions.
At 30, Min still lives tied to his mother's apron strings.
Sara cut her apron strings and moved abroad for a job.
Having additional skills or options that you can use if needed.
Diego is a teacher, but he has another string to his bow as a musician.
Maya learned coding to have more strings to her bow.
Using your personal influence to secretly help someone get an advantage.
Her uncle pulled strings to get her the internship.
Did Brian pull strings for his friend to join the club?
pull the strings
idiomBeing the person who secretly controls a situation or other people's actions.
The CEO pulls the strings behind every major company decision.
Who really pulls the strings in that political party?
string — adjective
1. Relating to or consisting of musical instruments that produce sound through vibr
Relating to or consisting of musical instruments that produce sound through vibrating strings.
The school orchestra has a strong string section with twelve violin players and four cellists.
string section — common noun phrase
Mei prefers string instruments to wind instruments because of their warm, rich tone during chamber concerts.
The Korean composer Unsuk Chin wrote a beautiful piece for string quartet and solo piano.
string quartet — fixed musical term
The music store sells a wide range of string instruments like violins and cellos.
- string instrument
- string section
- string quartet
- string orchestra
Usage Note
Almost always used attributively (before a noun). Common collocations include 'string section', 'string instrument', 'string quartet', and 'string orchestra'.
string — verb
1. To fit a musical instrument with a set of new strings, or to replace the existin
To fit a musical instrument with a set of new strings, or to replace the existing ones.
Dylan spent the afternoon stringing his acoustic guitar with new steel wires.
string + noun + with + noun — prepositional pattern
The repair shop can string your violin and tune it for a small fee.
Rohan watched an online tutorial to learn how to string a cello with new gut strings.
This old Yamaha guitar needs to be strung with light-gauge strings for easier fingerstyle playing.
passive: be strung with [material]
- string a guitar
- string a violin
- string with steel
- have it strung
- fit strings on
more literal, less common
Grammar Patterns
string + noun
string + noun + with + noun
Usage Note
Typically used with instruments like guitar, violin, cello, or harp. Past tense: strung. The instrument is the direct object, and the material can be added with 'with'.
2. To fit a sports racket with new strings, often to achieve a specific tension.
To fit a sports racket with new strings, often to achieve a specific tension.
Jabari needs to get his badminton racket strung before the tournament next Saturday.
get + noun + strung — causative passive pattern
Kim's Sports Shop strings tennis rackets while you wait for a reasonable price.
Top tennis players have their rackets strung at very high tension for more powerful serves and groundstrokes.
Quan asked the coach where he could get his squash racket strung in town.
- string a racket
- get [racket] strung
- have it strung
Grammar Patterns
string + noun
Usage Note
Often used in the causative construction 'have/get something strung'. The tension of the strings is a key parameter that players choose.
3. To pass a thread, cord, or wire through a series of objects such as beads, shell
To pass a thread, cord, or wire through a series of objects such as beads, shells, or flowers to make a necklace, decoration, or garland.
Talia showed her sister how to string beads onto a thin wire for a bracelet.
string + noun + onto + noun — prepositional pattern
Sumin strung dried flowers on a cotton thread to make a winter decoration.
The children strung popcorn and cranberries together to decorate the tree.
string together — phrasal variant
Lan carefully strung the shells she had collected on the beach onto a leather cord.
- string beads
- string flowers
- string onto a wire
- string together
- thread
more general; can be used for sewing needles or film reels as well
Grammar Patterns
string + noun + on/onto + noun
string + noun + together
Usage Note
The direct object can be the objects being threaded or the cord itself. When the focus is on the cord, use 'string + noun + with + objects' (e.g. 'string a wire with beads').
highly strung
idiomEasily upset or nervous; having a sensitive and anxious personality.
Sven is highly strung and gets anxious before any kind of exam or interview.
The dog was highly strung and barked at every small noise in the street.
Word family
- stringedadjectiveB2
- stringyadjectiveC1
- stringernounC1
- unstringverbC1
- unstrungadjectiveC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
String is a general term for a thin, flexible cord made of twisted fibres, used for everyday tasks like tying packages or hanging items. Rope is much thicker and stronger, designed for heavy-duty pulling or climbing — you would never wrap a gift with rope. Cord is thicker than string but thinner than rope; it often refers to electrical cables or sturdy decorative ties. Thread is the thinnest of the group, used primarily for sewing fabric. Twine is similar to string in thickness but is made by twisting two or more strands together, making it stronger; gardeners and butchers commonly use twine. For example, you sew with thread, tie a parcel with string, hang a picture with cord, secure a tent with rope, and truss a roast with twine.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'string' comes from Old English 'streng', meaning a strong rope or cord. It traces further back to the Proto-Germanic word '*strangiz', which is related to the word 'strong' — because string was originally made from tightly twisted fibres that gave it strength. The musical sense (a vibrating cord on an instrument) appeared in the 14th century, and the computing sense (a sequence of characters) emerged in the mid-20th century with the development of computer programming. The underlying image of something long, thin, and stretched out connects all the major meanings.